I promise this will be my last post on this subject. Most people, by now, have decided where they stand on this issue.
Many folks have emailed me in support of a boycott. A few have questioned my purpose and strategy. Virtually the only ones vehemently responding to my call are from NCA. Go figure. Dr. Smitter retorts with a few arguments. First, he claims that the new registration policy is not "new." I think Dr. Paulson has already amply rebutted this preposterous claim. While NCA has always expected its members to register, the new policy is, in fact, "new" in that it will purge anyone after the deadline from the program - including our very impoverished graduate students who single-author papers and cannot pay the registration fee on-time. Smitter also claims that my accusations of comp'd rooms and golf outings are spurious. He further argues that the only benefits NCA gains are with conference rooms when NCA books with certain hotels. What he fails to mention is that there is a difference between what NCA benefits during the actual conference and what they benefit during so-called "scouting" missions. When NCA investigates future hotel spaces, they are, quite literally, wined-and-dined, including golf outings. There are multiple people who can vouch for this, so don't just take my word for it. It's no surprise that NCA denies it, but they do so conveniently when they only refer to NCA's involvement during the conference time itself. One person responded to me saying that they have an ethical obligation to attend their meetings and panels that they have committed to. I say, everyone has an ethical obligation to confront economic injustice. NCA is only concerned about the bottom-line. They will argue that they provide a variety of benefits for their members (most of which is true, although they can be produced in a less expensive way for members), but those same benefits can be gained elsewhere. The only reason NCA is manipulating these registration policies and conducting business in the most expensive cities in the most expensive hotels is because they can profit from it. Others have suggested that it is reasonable that a large conference such as NCA takes place at expensive cities and expensive hotels. HOGWASH! There are much larger conferences that take place in much cheaper cities and hotels. NCA calls other cities "second and third tier" cities and argues they can't house our conference in one or two hotels which is demanded by our members. The truth of the matter is, NCA HASN'T INVESTIGATED THIS IN OVER TEN YEARS. There are many cities now that can house our size of a conference at a much cheaper rate. I've personally called hotels in the past week. Here are some examples: Indianapolis, Oklahoma City, Spokane, Hartford Connecticut, Portland Oregon, Raleigh, and even Nashville (although Nashville is pricey, it is still cheaper than the standard NCA city). By the way, during the past NCA in Chicago, you could've negotiated a cheaper price from the hotel personally than you could've by going through the NCA rate. Why do you think that is so? Does NCA can certain perks with the rate they negotiate??? I'll let you figure it out. One other person has argued we should be proud our organization is so big. I agree. Yet another has argued that we should be excited that NCA even exists given the benefits that we can accrue. Perhaps. But I don't think some people have heard me very clearly. I'm not saying disband NCA. I haven't said boycott NCA in perpetuity. I've only said, BOYCOTT THEM FOR A YEAR so they can see that we do value them, but that they should listen to us. One person said we shouldn't boycott, but instead we should get involved in the legislative process of NCA. Do you know how hard that is for a person who is pre-tenured? How about a graduate student? Do any of you have a clue about a) how expensive it is to attend each NCA, or b) how much of a clique it is to get involved in the core of NCA politics? Let's get real! The only way most of us can get our voices heard is to use our wallets. LET ME BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR: I firmly believe that NCA does offer a valuable service. We can network, get valuable feedback on research, introduce our students to key graduate programs, and hang out with friends. HOWEVER, all of this is occurring at an increasing expense. The new registration policy adds salt to an already festering wound. The costs are way too expensive. The NCA policies are oblivious to our needs and conditions. With a worsening economy, NCA seems blind to our condition, when, if it is true that they are concerned about our welfare, they should be more sensitive to our situations. NCA may be a great organization to many of you. But, IT CAN BE SO MUCH MORE. In fact, it can also be ETHICAL in its practices. If its members don't hold it accountable, who will? We know that the Bush administration certainly won't. Only we have the power to make our organizations be the type of organizations we want them to be. I urge all of you to give this a second thought. If you've already submitted a paper or a panel, you can still not register. NCA will purge you from their program, but so what? That only proves our point. If you insist on going, do so under duress. If your institution fully or mostly pays for your attendance at NCA, you can still sympathize with the rest of us. Realize that "your" organization really isn't taking your best interests at heart. Of course, other organizations (like MLA) may do similar things, but that doesn't make it right. We deserve better. We should demand better. That is all. Thanks for reading. Joseph Zompetti Illinois State University **************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/ 2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)
_______________________________________________ CEDA-L mailing list [email protected] http://www.ndtceda.com/mailman/listinfo/ceda-l
